Environment 

Preserve and protect our communities

Sustainability” is a strange word to some, but becoming more familiar to many.  
Does it mean “no growth”?  Or hugging trees?  Not necessarily.  It doesn’t have to be terribly radical.  None of us has been living in treetops or laying in front of bulldozers lately.
Sustainability simply means the ability of our society to continue to exist indefinitely. It means there will be an Earth and a society here for many, many generations to come, in at least as good a condition as what we have now, and hopefully better!
This requires careful, wise and balanced uses of the natural resources available to us; an economy that will not collapse but remain healthy and viable for all; and a social system that is supportive of all its people.  Those are the three elements that are included in our conversations: Environment, Economics, and Social Equity.
Those elements often seem to be at odds with each other!  For instance, our current system of economics says you have to grow to be better.  Classes on small business teach that a business that is not growing is dying.  “Bigger is always better”.
But the Earth teaches us that resources are finite, and “Enough is Enough”.  Just so much is available and no more. Everything born of the Earth grows to its appropriate size, based on resources available, and then stops.  The planet does not get bigger; it gets better.  
What can we do? Anything that can be done to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels is a huge help.
Buy food and products produced locally is a huge way to reduce fossil fuel consumption, both in our transport and the transport of the product.  Besides remembering to shop at the Farmers Market, the Kingston Food Coop, and local stores, we talked about swapping extra fruit and produce with neighbors and other ways to take advantage of the 10,000–15,000 acres of agriculture we have right here in Kitsap County.
Cooking from scratch with fresh vegetables (instead of quickie meals in the microwave) and hanging clothes to dry (instead of using the dryer) seem to add more chaos, but get us closer to sustainability. How do we get off the consumer whirlwind?  When do we realize that getting more “stuff” is not making our lives better, but more complicated?  Get beyond the “stuff” and you have more time for making your life, the planet’s life and your great-great-grandchildren’s lives better!  The one ecological principle we could chant is “Live Simply”! It’s even better than hugging trees!

Here are some of the 2009 presentations we featured at the Black Bear Exchange forum:

Check back for our 2010 presentation and discussion schedule.

"Saving Puget Sound Join a conversation about the health of Puget Sound– and how you can help—with Puget Sound Partnership’s Executive Director, David Dicks, State Representative Christine Rolfes, a representative of People For Puget Sound, and Kitsap County Commissioner Steve Bauer."

"Our underwater neighbors take a video tour beneath the surface of Puget Sound with noted underwater filmaker John Williams."

"Sustainable, wildlife compatible backyard. Living happily ever afterward with the creatures in your yard."

"Soak it up, let it bloom. Build your own raingarden. The rain runoff from your roof, driveway or patio has to go somewhere, why not use it to water your beautiful landscape?"

Kitsap Commissioner's Corner July 2009 from BKAT TV on Vimeo.

 

---

Vendors Specializing in this area

Kitsap County Public Works Solid Waste Division www.kitsapgov.com/sw -

Kitsap County Department of Community Development www.kitsapshoreline.org - shoreline master program update display

Great Peninsula Conservancy www.greatpeninsula.org -

Hood Canal Coalition -

Hood Canal Environmental Council www.hoodcanalenvironmentalcouncil.org - Protecting the Hood Canal since 1969.

Kitsap Audubon Society -

WaterPak -

West Sound Conservation Council www.westsoundconservation.org -

Kitsap Regional Library www.krl.org -

Wild Birds Unlimited www.wbu.com/gigharbor -

Kitsap County Democratic Women http://www.kitsapdemocraticwomen.org/ - Combine information about Green Household Cleaning Products with information about local Democratic Candidates running for election.

North Kitsap Legacy Partnership www.kitsapgov.com -

Kitsap County Democratic Central Committee -

Stillwaters Environmental Center www.stillwatersenvironmentalcenter.org - Puget Sound and healthy water for all of us! Ways to protect your watershed every day. Environmental education for all ages. Info on Carpenter Creek restoration.

Kitsap County Health District www.kitsapcountyhealth.com - Health District booth will highlight the 2009 Water Quality Monitoring Report, and current fecal pollution identification and correction projects.

Washington Wilderness Coalition www.wawild.org - Informational materials on wilderness conservation, wild and scenic rivers and endangered species.

Kitsap EZ Earth www.kitsapezearth.com -

Wet Apple Media http://wetapple.com/ -

Kitsap Conservation Voters www.wcvoters.org -

Kitsap Conservation District kitsapCD.org - Educate landowners on best farm management practices, how to conserve natural resources especially water and encourage application for the Rain Garden Cost Share Program.

Kitsap Community and Agricultural Alliance buylocalfoodinkitsap.org -

Kitsap County Food Bank Coalition www.skhelpline.org - Representing Bremerton Foodline, Central Kitsap Food Bank, Bainbridge Island Helpline House, North Kitsap Fishline, Sharenet, St. Vincent dePaul/Bremerton, Salvation Army and South Kitsap Helpline.

Bokashicycle LLC www.bokashicycle.com - Convert food waste and pet waste rapidly and effortlessly to nutrients for plants in a Bokashi Fermenting System. Microbes do thew work, you save money. Enjoy your vibrant garden and plants.

Kitsap County Parks www.kitsapgov.com/parks - Stop by the Kitsap County Park booth to learn about your County Parks and what we have to offer.

Kitsap Poultry Growers Cooperative - The Kitsap Poultry Growers Cooperative provides processing equipment, support, education and information about sustainable, locally grown poultry. Meet our growers, become a member.

WSU Extension kitsap.wsu.edu - Learn about water quality and land stewardship.

House of Bees http://www.houseofbees.com - Local beekeepers will be on hand to discuss backyard beekeeping.

Lighthouse Llamas -

Abby Burlingame for County Commissioner www.abbyburlingame.com - Election literature and policy briefs about how environmental concerns and economic growth can work together.